Portable cross cut system

Abstract

A portable cross cut system is presented that includes a main body having a reference edge configured to be aligned against an edge of a workpiece and an engagement member configured to be laid on top of the workpiece. A first guide edge extends along an outward edge of the main body and the engagement member and is configured to guide an edge of a baseplate of a cutting tool during a cutting operation. The main body includes a blade offset member having an arm that moves between an extended position and a retracted position. When the arm is extended the outward end of the arm indicates the position of a cut line so that the user can easily align the position of the portable cross cut system to easily and accurately make cuts in a workpiece.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A portable cross cut system, comprising:
 a main body; 
 the main body having a reference edge; 
 wherein the reference edge is configured to engage an edge of a workpiece; 
 an engagement member; 
 the engagement member connected to the main body; 
 a first guide edge; 
 the first guide edge configured to guide an edge of a baseplate of a cutting tool during a cutting operation; 
 wherein the first guide edge is positioned at an angle relative to the reference edge of the main body; 
 a first blade offset member; 
 the first blade offset member connected to the main body; 
 the first blade offset member having an arm that moves between an extended position and a retracted position; 
 wherein the arm of the first blade offset member is positioned at least partially within the main body; 
 wherein the arm of the first blade offset member is moved to the extended position by pressing an actuator of the first blade offset member thereby causing the arm of the first blade offset member to extend a length outward from the first guide edge; 
 wherein when the arm of the first blade offset member is in an extended position, the arm indicates a cut line of the cutting tool. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first guide edge extends at an approximate 90° angle to the reference edge. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first guide edge extends at an approximate 45° angle to the reference edge. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second guide edge, wherein the first guide edge extends at an approximate 90° angle to the reference edge and wherein the second guide edge extends at an approximate 45° angle to the reference edge. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising the first blade offset member having a bias member that automatically retracts the arm of the first blade offset member from an extended position to a retracted position when the actuator is released. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a landing pad associated with the first guide edge, the landing pad configured to receive a bottom surface of the baseplate of the cutting tool. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first opening in the engagement member that provides access to grip a workpiece through the engagement member. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a clamp pad in the engagement member that is configured to receive a clamp so as to facilitate clamping of the engagement member to a workpiece. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising the engagement member having a grip member, wherein the grip member is formed of a material that has a higher coefficient of friction than the material that forms the engagement member. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second blade offset member; 
 the second blade offset member connected to the main body; 
 the second blade offset member having an arm that moves between an extended position and a retracted position; 
 wherein when the arm of the second blade offset member is in an extended position, the arm indicates a cut line of the cutting tool. 
 
     
     
       11. The portable cross cut system of  claim 1 , wherein the length the arm extends outward from the first guide edge is configured to be adjusted to align with an edge of a blade of the cutting tool. 
     
     
       12. The portable cross cut system of  claim 1 , wherein when the actuator is released the first blade offset member moves to the retracted position. 
     
     
       13. The portable cross cut system of  claim 1 , wherein the first guide edge is formed of the main body and the engagement member. 
     
     
       14. The portable cross cut system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a lock member; 
 the lock member associated with the first blade offset member; 
 wherein the lock member is configured to set the length of the first blade offset member when the first blade offset member is in a fully extended position. 
 
     
     
       15. A portable cross cut system, comprising:
 a main body; 
 the main body having a reference edge; 
 wherein the reference edge is configured to engage an edge of a workpiece; 
 an engagement member; 
 the engagement member connected to the main body; 
 a first guide edge; 
 the first guide edge configured to guide an edge of a baseplate of a cutting tool during a cutting operation; 
 a first blade offset member; 
 the first blade offset member connected to the main body; 
 the first blade offset member configured to be moved from a retracted position to an extended position by pressing an actuator; 
 further comprising a first landing pad associated with the first guide edge, the first landing pad configured to receive a bottom surface of the baseplate of the cutting tool to ease initiation of a cut using the cutting tool. 
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a second guide edge; 
 the second guide edge configured to guide an edge of a baseplate of a cutting tool during a cutting operation; 
 a second landing pad associated with the second guide edge, the second landing pad configured to receive a bottom surface of the baseplate of the cutting tool to ease initiation of a cut using the cutting tool. 
 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a second blade offset member; 
 the second blade offset member connected to the main body; 
 the second blade offset member configured to move between an extended position and a retracted position; 
 wherein a length of the second blade offset member is configured to be adjusted to align with an edge of a blade of the cutting tool. 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a second blade offset member positioned within the main body. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a second blade offset member having an arm, wherein the arm of the second blade offset member extends outward from a second guide edge. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 15 , further comprising the first blade offset member having a bias member that automatically retracts the first blade offset member from an extended position to a retracted position when the actuator is released. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a first opening in the engagement member that provides access to grip a workpiece through the engagement member. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a clamp pad in the engagement member that is configured to receive a clamp so as to facilitate clamping of the engagement member to a workpiece. 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 15 , further comprising the engagement member having a grip member, wherein the grip member is formed of a material that has a higher coefficient of friction than the material that forms the engagement member. 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the first guide edge extends at an approximate 90° angle to the reference edge. 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the first guide edge extends at an approximate 45° angle to the reference edge. 
     
     
       26. The portable cross cut system of  claim 15 , wherein the first guide edge is formed of the main body and the engagement member. 
     
     
       27. The portable cross cut system of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a lock member; 
 the lock member associated with the first blade offset member; 
 wherein the lock member is configured to set the length of the first blade offset member when the first blade offset member is in a fully extended position.